Home / The Gardens of Bute / Glorious Gardens on Bute
The gardens on Bute have something to delight every taste. Visitors to Bute will be thrilled to observe Scottish gardening at its most diverse and finest on one island. From the substantial 300 acres of vibrant gardens, woodland and walks at Mount Stuart to the informal abundantly planted Ascog Hall with its unique, award winning Victorian Fernery to the formal, immaculately tended bedding displays, aviary and glasshouses at Ardencraig Gardens. Bute is a plant enthusiast’s paradise. When you can’t resist purchasing some of the plants you have seen on your visit to Bute you have many opportunities at Ascog Hall, Mount Stuart and Mill Cottage Garden Centre.
Ascog Hall Fernery & Gardens
Ascog Hall Gardens and Victorian Fernery
A charming three acre garden in a fairy-tale setting with an awe-inspiring Victorian fern house, a fascinating gravel garden favoured by butterflies and visitors alike, and a rose garden abundantly planted with ramblers and old shrub roses. Elsewhere, meandering paths lead through exotic plantings with a mixture of trees, shrubs, bulbs and choice perennials providing interest and colour from Easter to autumn.
Please see our facebook page for all events and many photographs of the garden throughout the season.
For all other information and enquiries visit www.ascoghallfernery.co.uk
Ardencraig Gardens
Ardencraig Gardens
Recently described as having the “best display of summer bedding anywhere in Scotland” this beautiful walled garden and glasshouses at their finest in July & August are run by Argyll and Bute council and have been developed to create a propagation, education and show garden with new cultivars introduced annually. The plants cultivated at Ardencraig are used throughout the Argyll and Bute region. There are a number of aviaries housing a range of foreign bird species that have been built to provide further interest - these are very popular with visiting children! The vibrant, well maintained displays in Rothesay are highly praised and enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike.
www.gardens-of-argyll.co.uk/gardens/ardencraig-gardens.html
Mount Stuart
Mount Stuart kitchen garden
300 acres and 300 years of fascinating and constantly evolving gardening at Mount Stuart make it a must see for all visitors to Bute. Designed upon an exquisite natural canvas provided by the island’s lush habitat and picturesque shoreline, today, they are amongst Europe’s finest vibrant gardens, wilderness and woodland.
Mount Stuart has an exotically planted 5 acre wee garden, an elaborate rock garden designed by Thomas Mawson, a Pinetum, a Kitchen Garden containing culinary and medicinal delights and an elegant glass house pavilion, a contemporary garden surrounding the award winning visitor centre, not to mention countless enjoyable walks through the policies and plants for sale. There are also vast carpets of snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells to delight in depending on the time of year you visit.
Events Calendar 2010
FEBRUARY
Tuesday 23rd February 2010 – Meeting point – Discovery Centre, Rothesay, Isle of Bute
Rothesay Heritage Walk
A special interest walk looking at the history of Rothesay’s Town Centre through it’s built heritage and spaces
Date/Time: 11.00 am
MARCH
Night Time Tour of Mount Stuart
Friday 19th March
Please call (01700) 503877 for further information.
APRIL
Easter Egg Hunt in the Mount Stuart Rock Garden
Saturday 3rd April
Please call (01700) 503877 for further information.
MAY
Fri 30th April - Mon 3rd May
The Isle of Bute Jazz Festival
Sunday 23rd May, 11am – 4pm
Bute Food & Craft Market at Mount Stuart
Situated within the Courtyard Area of the House, sample and purchase locally produced food and craft.
JULY
Sunday 25th, 11am – 4pm
Bute Food & Craft Market at Mount Stuart
Situated within the Courtyard Area of the House, sample and purchase locally produced food and craft.
AUGUST
Weds Aug 11th
Bute Agricultural Annual Show
Sat Aug 21st
Bute Highland Gathering
SEPTEMBER
eatBute 10 at Mount Stuart
Friday 10th – Sunday 12th September
An annual Island event, highlighting sustainability, biodiversity, traditions and cultures linked with food on Bute and the surrounding areas.
Keep up to date with the latest news and developments on www.eatbute.com
24th – 27th
18th Annual Linedance Festival
DECEMBER
Festive Food & Craft Market at Mount Stuart
Sunday 5th December, 11am – 4pm
Situated within the stunning setting of Mount Stuart, sample and purchase locally produced food and craft. Entry to this event is free.
This inaugural event was a celebration of Tasty, Fresh and Seasonal locally-sourced food. It showcased the finest fresh produce from Bute and the surrounding areas of Argyll, as well as showing the importance of eating food that is good, clean and fair - in line with the values of ‘Slow Food’.
eatBute08 was organised and promoted by Mount Stuart Trust in association with Slow Food UK and Petersham Nurseries. It was a new and exciting addition to our Island’s event calendar. The aim – to promote sustainability and biodiversity, as well as to protect the rich traditions and culture linked with locally produced food.
In its first year, the farmers’ market on Saturday 24th May, attracted almost 2000 visitors who were able to purchase a range of food products from eggs, milk and cheese to lamb, beef and pork. Positive feedback was received from all stall holders with most having sold out well before the scheduled end.
Feedback from the event was exceptionally positive, as shown by this selection of comments:
First Milk UK, eatBute’s main event sponsor; “On behalf of us all at First Milk, I’d like to congratulate you on the success of eatBute08, and to thank you for the opportunity to be part of the event. On many levels it appears to have been a very significant success. This dinner was a magnificent occasion, and the farmers’ market on the Saturday very successful.“
Chef, Nick Nairn; “You have a unique opportunity, because Bute is a microcosm of everything good going on in Scottish food. I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen – a shining example of what you can do when enough people want it to happen.“
Chairman of VisitScotland, Peter Lederer; “We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Bute and were so impressed by the planning and organisation of the event.“
Director of the Soil Association, Patrick Holden; “I thought it all went brilliantly well… the message will not have been lost on anyone who attended, including the islanders who were reconnected with the story behind their food. I was inspired with a sense that I had been present at the beginning of a whole new chapter of Bute’s food and farming history.“
Take a look around eatbute website to get a taste of what happened at eatBute08.
eatBute will continue to be an annual event held at Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute
Dates for 2009: 11th – 13th September
DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE A4 POSTER
Superb Fishing for Trout on Loch Fad
Loch Fad , the ‘long loch’ covers 175 acres and is situated in the centre of Bute along the Highland fault line. It is classified by Scottish Natural Heritage as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) for its scenic beauty and its huge diversity of bird life and vegetation. The loch is surrounded by wooded hills, including one of the first commercial Douglas Fir plantations dating from the 1840’s.
Loch Fad and Loch Quien from the south
With a maximum depth of 36 feet at the narrows, the ends of the loch have shallower areas ideal for fly fishing and although fish can be taken all over, the south end does tend to fish better as the water warms. The fishery is suitable for both the serious and novice angler with a large area of the loch, and the 30 boats with 4hp outboards, restricted to fly only. Bait and spinning is permitted from the bank at the north end of the loch.
The loch is stocked several times each week with quality reared fish at a minimum size of 1lb 4oz ranging up to 18lbs.
Early in the season most of the locals fish clear intermediate lines teamed up with patterns like the Black Zonker and Black & Green Fritz. As the water warms the fish spread out and good buzzer hatches will have the fish right on top. There is also a hatch of mayfly, although the timing of this varies from year to year. As summer progresses Stonefly &
A good days fishing
Sedges can be seen over most of the loch, so traditionals like Dunkeld, Mallard and Claret and Silver Invicta are worth a try.We have a good selection of flies on sale at the Bailiffs Hut.
The facilities at the head of Loch Fad include a picnic area, anglers shelter, toilets, partial disabled access, tuition*, ghillie* and rod hire* and our staff are on hand to offer expert and helpful advice
Full details about Loch Fad can be found on the their website
Rothesay Golf Course Clubhouse
Where ever you play, you’ll be inspired by spectacular panoramas and refreshed by sea breezes.
Rothesay Golf Club
Arguably one of Scotland’s most scenic, the course was designed by James Braid and Ben Sayers and boasts unparalleled panoramic views of the Kyles of Bute, Clyde coast, Arran and the Cowal Peninsula. At only 5419 yards long don’t be deceived, Rothesay golf course will present any player a challenge whether it be the rolling par 4’s or the testing par 3’s where par is always a good score. Come along and experience island life and its atmosphere. Enjoy a challenging days golf, where our Professional Jimmy Dougal & Clubmaster John Rannie will do their utmost to make your visit a memorable one. Visit the Website
Rothesay Golf Club are running a joint promotion with Calmac Ferries and local quality accommodation providers this winter.
For more details visit The Stay and Play Website
Port Bannatyne Golf Course overlooking the Cowal Hills
Port Bannatyne
Founded in 1912, the Port Bannatyne Golf Club can claim to be among the most scenic courses in Scotland, looking over Kames Bay to the Cowal Hills and the mouths of the Kyles of Bute and Loch Striven. At the top of the course, golfers can look westward to Loch Fyne and the peninsula of Kintyre. Mountains, waterways, islands, sailing boats, and vast horizons are pleasing distractions.
The course is somewhat unusual in having only 13 holes, with the first five being replayed before ending on a separate 18th. But the holes are an interesting and demanding mix with equally enticing names like the Burn, the Rushes, the Kyles, the Pancake, the Winney, the Puzzle, the Trap, the Saucer, etc.
Located on the west coast and benefiting from the Gulf Stream means that the course is almost never closed because of snow—play goes on 12 months a year in a temperate climate. Visit the Website
Bute Golf Course at Kingarth with the view to Arran
Bute Golf Club at Kingarth
Close to the sands of Stravannan Bay on Bute’s west coast, Bute Golf Club’s 9 hole course provides a delightful location in a rural setting with the dramatic backdrop of the mountains of Arran. The course although only nine holes offers an array of challenges from the tricky 2nd over the wall to negotiating the burn at the short 3rd and the hillocks at the 8th. Visit the Website
Ramblers at Ettrick Bay
Walking…
Bute is only fifteen miles long and five miles across at its widest point, so most sites of interest are easily accessible. The highest point is Windy Hill, just 900 feet. If you enjoy relaxing walks, you will be delighted. Most walks can be as long or as short as you want them to be.
For the more adventurous walker there is Bute’s very own West Island Way where walkers can choose a variety of routes around the island to explore some of the remoter parts of the countryside.
The isle of Bute Ramblers organise and lead a number of organised walks throughout the island, why not join one and get an insight into some of Butes history. All organised walks start from the Isle of Bute Discovery Centre.
A competitor at the Bute Triathlon
Hire a bike from The Bike Shed to explore our wonderful island . Call 01700 505515 to discuss your needs with a fully trained member of staff or visit www.thebikeshed.org.uk.
The only Raleigh Cyclelife centre on the west of Scotland
A fleet of bikes to suit everyone
Dancers at the games
The Bute Highland Games
The annual gathering at the Bute Highland Games is a spectacle that shouldn’t be missed. This years event will take place on 22nd August at the Bute Showground.
The origins of Highland Games in Scotland can be traced back many hundreds of years. Clan chiefs used the games to recruit staff-Winners of races made excellent couriers, while winners of strength events made fine bodyguards and soldiers.
Rival Clan Chiefs often used to match their champions against each other at important Highland Gatherings and great status was placed on winning and losing.
Dancers and Pipers also became part of the household staff of Clan Chiefs-not merely for their entertainment value but also for the esteem and glory which their skills and success reflected on their masters.
King Malcolm is thought to have begun the Royal association with Highland Games at Braemar during the 11th Century. It was Queen Victoria, who dearly loved Scotland, who later made modern Highland Games so universally popular from the 19th. Century onwards.
Although Games were held on Bute in earlier times, their exact history is unclear. The modern Games as we know them began in 1947, under the auspices of Bute Shinty and Amateur Athletic Sports Club.
Wrestlers at the Rothesay Games
The founder Secretary Tom B. McMillan served as Honorary Secretary from 1947 till 1989. He remained active on the Organising Committee as our Vice Chieftain until his sad death during 1993. In 1989 Gordon Sutherland was appointed Honorary Secretary until he stepped down at the Annual General Meeting in June, 2008. At the same AGM David Anderson was unanimously appointed Secretary – the third Secretary in 61 years.
These Games have gradually grown in status and strength, to their present position as one of the major events on the Highland Games calendar.
All competitions at Bute Highland Games are run in accordance with Amateur Rules and Regulations. The preparatory and organisational work is carried out by volunteers.
Visit the Official Highland Games Website
This years FESTIVAL is scheduled for Thursday 30th April - Monday 4th MAY
Phil Mason - the founding committee member of the Jazz Festival
The Isle of Bute Jazz Festival began in 1988 and has been staged annually on the first weekend of May ever since - thisyear’s event will be the 21st.
The first Festival was a small affair with only six bands, and the organisers held their breath to see if anyone would come to a small Scottish island with little tradition of jazz (although big dance bands certainly played regularly at Rothesay Pavilion in the 1950’s and 60’s). Happily enough fans turned up that first year to encourage another venture the following year, and the Festival has continued to grow in reputation and stature ever since.
Some very well known jazz names featured on the programme over the next few years - Acker Bilk, Monty Sunshine, Martin Taylor, Tommy Smith, Andy Sheppard, Carol Kidd, The Temperance 7, and The London Community Gospel Choir amongst others, and the Festival continues to attract top class UK and international bands in mainly the Traditional New Orleans idiom.
The Festival is a great supporter of young musicians who feature prominently in the annual programme.
Phil Mason
Director Phil Mason - another well-known name in jazz circles - is a long-term resident on the Island and he brings his very popular New Orleans All-Stars with Blues & Gospel singer Christine Tyrrell to the weekend every year.
The official Isle of Bute Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Festival website is HERE
Try your hand at fishing on Bute’s Lochs.
Loch Fad is tranquil — until you feel the jerk of an 18lb trout, and you know a fight is on. Fish of such size are landed regularly from boat and bank between March and October.
Fly fishing on Loch Fad
In addition, Quien Loch has its fair share of browns, which will test your abilities to the limit.
Whatever time of year you come to Loch Ascog. you can pull in pike.
Greenan Loch is well stocked with tench, roach and carp.
Sailing in Bute’s sheltered waters
The waters around Bute are just as fascinating to explore as the island itself, and the Maids of Bute, the painted rocks on the northwest coast, are a well known landmark.
The new inner harbour pontoons and berths
Moorings
Rothesay
There are now 40 moorings at £7.00 per night. 25 are on the north side of the bay, and 15 on the south side. The harbour can presently hold a number of boats, with more room available on the pontoon behind the north side of the ferry terminal which is more suitable for newer wider boats. Rothesay harbour and pontoon berths are in great demand in high season. The now complete inner harbour development should hold about another 40 boats. The Isle of Bute Sailing club is situated at the north end of the bay.
Port Bannatyne
There are swinging moorings available in Kames Bay and a vibrant cafe/post office a couple of pubs and a seafood restaurant.
A new marina is under construction. Plans for the development indicate it would be capable of accommodating 58 boats. Click here for more information
